BIO FLASHCARDSSSSS

somatic cell

cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes

sex chromosomes

chromosome that directly controls the development of sexual characteristics

gametogenesis

process by which gametes are produced through the combination of meiosis and other maturational changes

autosome

chromosome that contains genes for characteristics not directly related to the sex of the organism

fertilization

fusion of an egg and sperm cell

gamete

sex cell; an egg or a sperm cell

diploid

cell that has two copies of each chromosome, one from an egg and one from a sperm

haploid

cell that has only one copy of each chromosome

meiosis

form of nuclear division that divides a diploid into haploid cells; important in forming gametes for sexual reproduction

sexual reproduction

process by which two gametes fuse and offspring that are a mixture of both parents are produced

egg

female gamete

sperm

male gamete

polar body

haploid cell produced during meiosis in the female of many species; these cells have little more than DNA and eventually disintegrate

homologous chromosome

chromosomes that have the same length, appearance, and copies of genes, although the alleles may differ